I get a lot of questions about how early will people see “peak” fall colors and that goes hand in hand with, “I’m arriving in mid to late Sept, will I see good fall colors?”. I usually go out on my first drive through the fall colors around the 15th-18th of Sept. I look at the higher elevations like Route 112 (Kancamagus), Sugar Hill, (Franconia Notch), and over to Vermont’s NEK (North East Kingdom).

A two-day trip through Vermont up to the Canadian border and what you might see

I hope this two-day trip into Northern Vermont in 2019 will give you an idea of what mid-September looks like in what I’ll call an average year. Considering an average year, you have to factor in a “slow-burn” year as well in terms of developing colors. One year later, in 2020, we had a much earlier start to the colors. However, based on the past 10 years, I would lean towards late September to early October before really good colors show. To stay up-to-date with what I’m seeing, please sign up below..

Recap of a trip on 14 & 15 Sept 2019

This is a recap of 14 &15 Sept 2019 but most years have been like this since 2010 and earlier. This was a drive up to St Albans Vermont, over to Troy VT (Jay Peak area), and then home again. (626 miles roundtrip over the 14th/15th)

We were a bit surprised by the level of fall colors we DID SEE. Even in Massachusetts on I-95 and I-93, we saw a tree or two that looked healthy and were mostly turned. But before you start scheduling your vacation plans for mid-September, remember… This is only one or two, or three trees out of tens of thousands… I’ll let that sink in. Below is Hancock Vermont on Route 100.

The Bandstand as you can see has a nice hill behind it but as of mid-September, no one would be impressed by the colors. But if you look at it carefully, this is a good example of what Early “Turning Color” looks like.

Our Route of travel on the 14th of Sept, North from Massachusetts to Vermont

We traveled I-95 to I-93 (This is a family visit as well so we wanted to get up North fast, hence the highway travel). We stopped at the Hooksett rest stop to get our favorite cider donuts.

After this, we’re back on 93 and then we caught I-89 North towards Vermont. A little while later (mile marker 38 on the northbound side) we stopped at the Springfield rest stop.

Springfield Rest Stop on I-89

You can get great views looking south and west from behind the reststop building. As of the 14th, there was minimal color so far and what is seen on the surrounding hills is nothing more than a shift from solid green to a little less green. (South Central New Hampshire at this point.)

We got off the highway at Quechee Vermont on Route 4 and took that to Killington where we picked up Route 100. From there we headed North.

Moss Glen Falls

We got to the parking lot and the Mom and Pop maple products wagon was set up in the parking lot and they offered a taste of Vermont maple syrup. Once we were done getting sugared up, we took the wood walkway over to the waterfall. Here is another article on Moss Glen Falls.

It’s mostly green as of the 14/15th of Sept but there are some yellow fall colors over the walkway and in the next week or two will be turning nicely.

Smugglers Notch

We got to Stowe and they were working on Route 100 and so we continued up Route 108 towards Smugglers Notch. We did notice that it was beginning to be colorful at the entrance. **NOT PEAK** but getting SOME color. It seems the frost they got a week earlier seems to have started the color. There is also lots of sun forecasted for this coming week.

The higher elevation of Mount Mansfield didn’t seem to be producing the fall colors any further than what we saw back at the entrance. But as you get further North… Well, keep reading…

Hudak Farm Stand Swanton Vermont

We got to Saint Alban’s/Swanton Vermont and we stopped at Hudak’s farm. They have a farmstand… (several buildings and greenhouses) and when Lisa brought me here years ago, I fell in love with the place.

They only had a few of their pumpkins out so it will be a better photographic experience in early October. Hudak’s Farm has lots of vegetables and baked goods in the store but they start to dress up the outside of the store building with pumpkins and fall flowers for sale in late September. It’s great to visit Swanton Vermont and grab a bite to eat and take some photos of a great roadside farm stand in northern Vermont. Visit my gallery for these images and more of Hudak’s.

15 September and we took the long way home

We left St Albans and took 108 through Richford. All along Route 108, most of the trees that were showing good fall colors were along the roadside. The hills were not showing much in the way of color, yet… We got on Route 105 which is as close to Canada as you can get without crossing over and headed towards Jay Peak. Troy Vermont is well worth your time to explore when you have the time.

It’s 15 September and all along Route 105 we saw some of the best fall colors of the trip but It was not as colorful as most of us would like. But if you are looking for some fall colors around the next weekend, the 20th to the 22nd, head North…

We jumped on I-93 heading south as the light was fading. Franconia Notch only had 1-8% color and was just turning and while there was only a spot of fall color here or there on the hills along the highway, it was clear that the leaves are ready to turn. The way you can tell is that the greens are dull and darkening with shades of red showing. (see below)

It’s by the uneven green colors. All sorts of shades of green. During the summer they are brighter and more uniform but as fall approaches and the chlorophyll is shut off from the leaves they start to turn other colors. These are Not bright or definitive in their color but not really green either. This “mottled” green is known as turning fall color. Most people will see a stressed tree and say “it (the area) is turning”.

Those hillsides as seen above are what I call turning even though there was very little in the way of bright fall colors. Oh, there are a few points of color on the hills but within a week it should be nice and another week after that, these areas will be at peak. A few weeks after that you will be looking further South for your color fix.

Somebody mentioned that I needed to let people know that I was selling my artwork. My New England Fall Foliage is available at this link. You can get New England art for your walls as matted/framed prints, canvas gallery wraps, or metal prints. If you are looking for gifts that reflect your love of New England then send some mugs or greeting cards or tote bags. The fleece blankets look great as well, just ask my wife who is wrapped in hers as I write this.

Jeff Foliage Folger

Autumn is a state of mind more than a time of year – Jeff Foliage

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